State v. Payne

108 So. 3d 174, 2012 WL 6163096, 2012 La. App. LEXIS 1594
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 12, 2012
DocketNo. 47,481-KA
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 108 So. 3d 174 (State v. Payne) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Payne, 108 So. 3d 174, 2012 WL 6163096, 2012 La. App. LEXIS 1594 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

WILLIAMS, J.

|, The defendant, Landford Payne, was charged by amended bill of information with two counts of armed robbery with a firearm, violations of LSA-R.S. 14:64 and 14:64.3, two counts of attempted second degree murder, violations of LSA-R.S. 14:30.1 and 14:27, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, violations of LSA-R.S. 14:95.1. The charges involved two separate shooting incidents in June and July 2010. After a jury trial, the defendant was found guilty of attempted second degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, but was acquitted of armed robbery for the June 2010 shooting. He was found guilty of attempted second degree murder, attempted armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, for the July 2010 shooting.

After a hearing, the defendant was adjudicated a second-felony offender. For the offenses committed in June 2010, the trial court sentenced defendant to serve 50 years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for attempted second degree murder and 20 years without benefit for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, with these sentences to [177]*177run concurrently. Regarding the offenses of July 2010, the trial court sentenced defendant to serve 50 years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for attempted second degree murder, 20 years without benefit for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and 20 years without benefit for attempted armed robbery, with an additional 5 years for use of a firearm. These sentences were ordered to run concurrently with each other, but consecutively to the concurrent sentences imposed for the June 2010 offenses. The defendant now appeals. For the |2following reasons, we affirm each of defendant’s convictions and the sentences imposed for the attempted second degree murder offenses; we vacate the sentences for attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and the imposition of jail time for failure to pay restitution and fines. We remand for resentencing.

FACTS

The first incident involving the defendant occurred on June 15, 2010. According to the testimony of Jason Weeks, he was sitting on the porch of a house on Short Washington Street in Monroe, waiting for a friend to return when a vehicle stopped in front of the house. The defendant exited the vehicle and approached Weeks demanding drugs or money. When Weeks refused, defendant pointed a handgun at him and again demanded money. Weeks gave defendant some of his money, but refused the demand for more. The defendant, who was standing three feet away, then fired multiple shots at Weeks. After being shot, Weeks ran out of the house to a nearby convenience store, where he collapsed on the floor. Police responded to the scene and Weeks was taken to the hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds to his chest, arm and back. While he was recovering in the hospital, Weeks saw defendant’s photograph on a news report about his arrest for a shooting that occurred near the location where Weeks had been shot. Weeks recognized the defendant as the person who had shot him and contacted the police with this information.

Regarding the second shooting incident, the trial testimony showed that on July 1, 2010, Jerry Lee Greer was with a group of friends at a house |aon Adams Street in Monroe. At approximately 5:45 p.m., the defendant rode up to the residence on a bicycle and called to Greer, who had previously met defendant. They were standing near the side of the house when the defendant pulled a gun and demanded Greer’s money. The defendant said, “I’ve got to have it,” asked if Greer was willing to die and then said, “I’m going to ask you one more time.” Before Greer could react, the defendant shot him one time. After the victim fell to the ground, defendant went through his pockets and then rode away on his bicycle. Another neighbor heard the gunshot, saw defendant holding a black handgun and telephoned the police while following the defendant as he fled the scene. The witness kept the defendant in sight and was able to direct officers to the defendant’s location. When the defendant was arrested, he was in possession of a handgun and was carrying $5.00 on his person. The detective working the case took statements from three individuals who actually saw defendant fire the gun. There were seven others who heard the shot or saw the defendant with a gun in his hand prior to the shooting. The handgun in defendant’s possession when he was arrested was determined to be the weapon that fired the cartridge casings found at the scenes of both shootings.

With regard to each shooting incident, the defendant was charged with armed robbery with a firearm, attempted second [178]*178degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, for a total of six counts. The jury acquitted defendant of the armed robbery of Weeks, but found him guilty of two counts of attempted second degree murder, the attempted 14armed robbery of Greer and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. After a hearing, the trial court adjudicated the defendant a second-felony offender. As for the offenses committed on June 15, 2010, the trial court sentenced defendant to serve 50 years without benefit for attempted second degree murder and 20 years without benefit for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, with these sentences to run concurrently. Regarding the offenses of July 1, 2010, the trial court sentenced defendant to serve 50 years without benefit for attempted second degree murder, 20 years without benefit for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and 20 years without benefit for attempted armed robbery, with an additional 5 years for use of a firearm. These' sentences were ordered to run concurrently with each other, but consecutively to the concurrent sentences imposed for the June 2010 offenses. Additionally, the defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 for each count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and $500 in restitution to the victim of the attempted armed robbery, or in default thereof, serve an additional 180 days. This appeal followed.

DISCUSSION

The defendant contends the trial court erred in imposing excessive sentences. Defendant argues that less harsh sentences would accomplish the goals of punishment and rehabilitation. Because we have noted error patent regarding the sentences for the convictions of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and attempted armed robbery, we shall consider this assignment only with respect to the sentences imposed for attempted second degree murder.

|fiAn appellate court utilizes a two-pronged test in reviewing a sentence for excessiveness. First, the record must show that the trial court took cognizance of the criteria set forth in LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 894.1. The trial court is not required to list every aggravating or mitigating circumstance so long as the record reflects that he adequately considered the guidelines of the article. State v. Smith, 433 So.2d 688 (La.1983); State v. Lathan, 41,855 (La.App.2d Cir.2/28/07), 953 So.2d 890. The important elements which should be considered are the defendant’s personal history (age, family ties, marital status, health, employment record), prior criminal record, seriousness of offense, and the likelihood of rehabilitation. State v. Jones, 398 So.2d 1049 (La.1981); State v. Ates, 43,327 (La.App.2d Cir.8/13/08), 989 So.2d 259, writ denied, 2008-2341 (La.5/15/09), 8 So.3d 581. There is no requirement that specific matters be given any particular weight at sentencing. State v.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
108 So. 3d 174, 2012 WL 6163096, 2012 La. App. LEXIS 1594, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-payne-lactapp-2012.